On June 1, 2023, to mark International Children's Day, Bakhvi HPP organized a seminar for students of Mtispiri and Chkhakaura schools. The event featured local entrepreneur David Tenieshvili and his son, Gabriel Tenieshvili. David Tenieshvili, a prominent tea plantation owner in Guria with 30 years of experience in managing a small business in the region, shared insights on the nuances of starting a startup, regional opportunities, and how to leverage them. During the seminar, Gabriel Tenieshvili, who has been involved in the family business for years and recently introduced Tenieshvili tea at a global tourism festival in Germany, shared his experiences with the students.
The meeting was conducted in a Q&A format, allowing students to ask questions and receive answers about starting a business in the region, overcoming challenges, and opportunities for gaining international experience.
David Tenieshvili expressed his positive impression of the seminar, saying, "It was a truly special day for me. It's gratifying when your experiences are valuable to others, especially young people. I hope students will take my advice into account, which will help them in starting and running a business."
He also thanked Bakhvi HPP for the opportunity to share his experiences, emphasizing the importance of supporting the education and awareness of the younger generation, particularly in regions where such initiatives are rare.
Natia Shavadze, a 10th-grade student from Mtispiri School "I want to thank Bakhvi HPP for organizing this lecture. I learned a lot of new things, especially about the new entrepreneurial support program in Mtispiri. It was very useful to learn about tea cultivation and see how an experienced entrepreneur shared his knowledge and showed us the advantages of doing business in the region. This is important because we, the youth, can develop our own regions and not leave them behind."
Saba Beridze, a 9th-grade student from Chkhakaura Public School
"We plan to start a small business in our family. The training showed me that doing business in the village also has a bright future. Thank you to Mr. David and his son Gabriel for visiting us and sharing their experiences. Gabriel's story and his choice to live in the village and join his father's business were particularly interesting."
The seminar was designed for high school students in grades 8 through 12, aiming to raise awareness and motivation about starting a business in the region.